HSV edges Iran in Dubai Challenge
by Martin Reza Babry
PFDC – DUBAI, A good second half was not enough for a depleted Iran squad, as Team Melli suffered a 2-1 defeat to a full-strength Hamburg SV in the Dubai Football Challenge 2007 opening match.
Iran, without any of their six European based players and the still injured standard goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour, displayed a poor performance in first half. Ghalenoei had organized his team in a 3-5-2 formation, however, while the offense barely was able to create dangerous opportunities, the defense allowed Mehdi Mahdavikia, van der Vaart & Co too many chances.
The usual Iranian team captain played the first 45 minutes for Hamburg against his countrymates and was one of the best players on the field before being rested in second half.
Team Melli’s only chance in first came courtesy of Hossein Kaabi who won the ball in midfield and later concluded the counter attack himself with a shot which narrowly went over the bar (22′).
Hamburg finally scored the well deserved 1-0 thanks to a terrible blunder by goalkeeper Vahid Talebloo, who unnecessarily came out of his goal but totally misjudged a long van der Vaart ball from midfield, so Jose Paolo Guerrero had little problems heading the ball into the open net (30′).
Alexander Laas and Boubacar Sanogo, who hit his shot from close range directly at Talebloo from close range, failed to increase Hamburg’s lead before the break.
Impressive Iran in second interval
Whatever Amir Ghalenoei told his men at halftime, it must have been good, as Iran showed a very much improved second half performance. Javad Kazemian had the first of several Iranian chances but had to see his freekick being denied by Hamburg’s recently acquired keeper Frank Rost.
62 minutes into the game Rasoul Khatibi was inscened by a nice backflick from Reza Enayeti, but Khatibi’s shot came back from the crossbar. The goal would have been disallowed anyway since Khatibi was ruled offside – a very close decision to say the least.
Just a minute later there was no offside flag when Kazemian vollied a loose ball on goal but again the ball rattled off the underside of the bar.
Another two minutes later Khatibi did it better as he won a freekick which was driven in by substitute midfielder Iman Mobali and headed into goal by the tiny forward.
It was a special goal for Khatibi, who had played for Hamburg in the 1999/2000 season alongside Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian.
The meanwhile very dominant Iranians were close to taking the lead in minute 69 when the now sizzling Kazemian dribbled his way through midfield before sending Enayati through on goal, who curved around Rost and fell in spectacular manner. Although it appeared as if there had been at least a light touch to Enayati’s foot, the referee immediately decided on a dive and booked the striker.
Hamburg, meanwhile having replaced a couple of key players by youngsters, scored the winner against the run of play with their only chance in second half in minute 71. A great pass from Ben Hatira beat the offside trap and the completely unmarked Berisha had little problems getting the ball past Talebloo.
Iran had two good chances to equalize through Mobali’s freekicks, but the Al Shabab man was denied by the good Frank Rost twice (74′, 91′).
It was an unnecessary loss for Iran, who conceded goals after a goalkeeping blunder and a single defensive disorganization in second half.
While Rost, Mahdavikia, van der Vaart and Jarolim were the best Hamburg players, Kazemian, Kaabi, Khatibi and Mobali, mainly due to his precise and dangerous set pieces, knew to impress on Iranian side.
In the other match on Monday, UAE overcame Vfb Stuttgart by 2-1. UAE skipper Mohammad Omar cancelled out Mario Gomes’ goal before Ismael Mattar scored the winner for the hosts.
Iran’s next match will be against Vfb Stuttgart on Wednesday.
Iran – Hamburg SV 1-2 (0-1)
Dubai Football Challenge 2007
Goals:
0-1 Guerrero (30′)
1-1 Khatibi (65′ / Assist: Mobali)
1-2 Berisha (71′)
Iran’s lineup: Talebloo – Hosseini (84′ Mirghorbani), Nosrati, A. H. Sadeghi – Kaabi, Kazemi (55′ Mobali), Nikbakht (80′ Pejman Nouri) – Kazemian, E. Sadeghi (55′ K. Rahmati) – Khatibi, Enayati
Iranian players booked: Kaabi, Mobali, Enayati, A. H. Sadeghi